Rotatable sprinkler



Jan. 12, 1932. J. w. INGRAM ROTATABLE SPRINKLER Filed April 3, 1930 7 James Win Patented Jan. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JAMES W. INGRAM, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA BJO'IATAIBLE SPRINKLER Application filed April 3,

This invention relates to a sprinkler of the fluid actuated rotating deflector type for use in the uniform distribution of water over a large area such as lawns, golf course greens, and similar surfaces.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a sprinkler that will operate efficiently on both high pressure and low pressure water systems. This object has been accomplished after extended experimentation which has produced the design and association of the opposing faces and auxiliary lip of the rotated deflector which are hereinafter described and claimed.

Another object is to provide a sprinkler of sturdy construction with its moving parts including the bearing assembly of durable but light weight construction to facilitate the rotation of the deflector.

A further object is to reduce the costs of manufacture and assembly of the sprinkler and of its component parts.

By way of example, the invention is illustrated and described as embodied in a lawn sprinkler of the type held in upright position in the sod by means of a spike.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the deflector blade and its auxiliary lip, and also shows the double intake connection.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the deflector blade showing the difference in area of its two sides, and also shows the single intake connection.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the deflector and nozzle assembly.

Fig. 4 is a top plan diagrammatic representation of the deflector.

Fig. 5 is a profile diagrammatic View of the triple intake connection.

The sprinkler shown in the drawings is formed with a spike 17 attached to the intake connection 15 which carries the nozzle 2. A modification consists in equipping the sprinkler with two intake connections 15 and 16 so that it can be used in a linear series of sprinklers on a single supply line. When equipped with a plurality of intake connections 22, another modification can be used in a system of radial supply lines. These 1930. Serial No. 441,344.

modifications are particularly adaptable for use on golf greens and other surfaces where great area is required to be watered by a number of sprinklers.

Surrounding the nozzle 2 is the sleeve 11.

Pressed into the sleeve 11 are the bearings 10 made of graphite or some similar substance, held in position by the burrs 14 on the sleeve 11, permitting the rotation of the sleeve 11 with its bearings 10 on the nozzle member 2. The rotating sleeve 11 is prevented from sliding off the nozzle 2 by means of the washer 12 held on the nozzle 2 by means of the burrs 13 on the nozzle 2. The washer 12 also acts as a guard to prevent the admission of foreign particles into the bearings.

This bearing assembly produces a light, but sturdy, construction inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, its light construction being particularly desirable to add to the freedom of rotation of the deflector, especially at low pressures. The use of the washer member 13 avoids the necessity of brazing or casting a shoulder on the nozzle member 2, and the use of the burrs 13 and 14 to hold the washer 12 and the bearings 10 in position also avoids the use of more elaborate and expensive projections or shoulders at these points which would obviously add to the weight and the cost of construction and assembly.

The deflector 1 is attached by any suitable means such as soldering or brazing to the upper end of the sleeve 11. This deflector member 1 comprises two adjacent faces, the deflector face 3 and the pressure face 4, the deflector face 3 being considerably greater in area than the pressure face 4, in order to obtain a collection surface to divert loW pressure water against the opposing pressure face 4, and in order better to balance the deflector during rotation with low water pressure, and thus to accelerate its rotation. These faces are so designed that the intermediate channel 5 is substantially V-shaped in crosssection and inclined toward the pressure face 4, the upper end of face 4 carrying the auxiliary lip 6. The pressure face 4 is substantially disposed in a plane 20 substanno tially normal to its path of rotation 19.

The auxiliary lip 6 is of material area and is bent over in such a manner that it is interposed substantially normal to the path 151 of the stream as the stream is acted upon by the radial component of force imparted when the deflector reaches its maximum speed of rotation. As indicated in Fig. 4, the passage between the upper edge 7 of the lip and the upper edge 8 of the face 3 is smaller than the outlet opening 23 in the nozzle 2.

This formation of the lip in the illustrative example causes its upper edge 7 to form an angle less than with the upper edge 8 of the face 3 and also causes the under-side of this lip 6 to lie in a plane inclined at an acute angle with the plane of the upper portion of the face 3, thus forming what in effect is a nozzle at the apex of the deflector.

In operation the water is directed by the nozzle 2 in a full stream against the deflection face 3 where it impinges approximately on the area 9 which diverts the stream onto the pressure face 4. The force of the Water exerted on the pressure face 4 rotates the deflector so that the pressure face is the leading face during rotation. Thus the deflector shown herein rotates in the direction of the arrow 19.

The stream then travels through the inclined channel 5 which is curved upwardly and outwardly over the orifice 23 and the Water is deflected radially and transversely across the vertical axis of the nozzle and thrown radially in a stream following the path 18. substantially normal to the plane of the auxiliary lip 6, When the deflector reaches its maximum speed of rotation.

It has been found that the substantial area of this auxiliary lip 6, substantially normal to this course of the stream, supplies an additional pressure surface supplementing the pressure surface of the pressure face 4 which )roduces very etiicient results not only at high pressures but also at low pressures such J as supplied by individual tanks in rural communities and by similar sources.

The auxiliary lip 6 performs the following functions The design, position, and material area of this lip act as an added pressure area tothe pressure face 4 and thus increase the speed of rotation, and the efficiency of the deflector even at low pressure. It materially restricts the area of the opening between the edges 7 and 8.Which adds further to the velocity of flow and force of reaction to increase the speed of rotation. (3) It breaks up the water into small drops.

Having herein described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is expressly stated that this embodiment is illustrative only, and that the invention not limited to the materials, dimensions, and specific elements described, but comprises all equivalents of the several cooperating features herein shown and. described.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a sprinkler of the class described, a nozzle having an unrestricted orifice and an inclined deflector rotatably supported thereon to receive the discharge therefrom, said deflector having opposing faces of unequal area, the deflector face of greater area being disposed to receive the stream from the nozzle, and to direct it to the opposing pressure face of lesser area, said pressure face being disposed to direct the stream onto an auxiliary lip of substantial area disposed at the upper corner of said pressure face, said auxiliary lip being disposed so its upper edge Will form an acuate angle less than 45 With the upper edge of the deflector face, said deflector face and lip being in closer proximity at their outer corners and so that said lip is in a plane inclined at an acute angle to the plane of the deflector face.

2. In a sprinkler of the class described, a nozzle having an unrestricted orifice and an inclined deflector rotatably supported thereon to receive the discharge therefrom, Said deflector having opposing faces of unequal area, the deflector face of greater area being disposed to receive the stream from the nozzle, and to direct it to the opposing pressure face of lesser area, said pressure face being disposed to direct the stream onto an auxiliary lip of substantial area disposed at the upper corner of said pressure face, said auxiliary lip being disposed so its upper edge will form an outwardly acute angle less than 45 with the upper edge of the deflector face and so that said lip is in a plane inclined at an acute angle to the plane of the deflector face, and also in a plane disposed substantially normal to the course of the fluid stream during maximum speed of rotation of the deflector.

3. In a sprinkler of the character described, a nozzle having unrestricted orifice and a deflector rotatably mounted upon said nozzle, said deflector being substantially V- shaped in cross-section providing a channel for the stream issuing from the nozzle inclined in the direction of rotation thereof, said deflector having a pressure face disposed substantially normal to its path of rotation, and further being shaped to guide the stream upwardly and outwardly over the axis of said nozzle, and an auxiliary pressure lip on said pressure face disposed substantially normal to the course of the stream and acting to restrict the flow from the nozzle to increase its Velocity and accelerate the rotation of said deflector and to diffuse the stream issuing from said nozzle.

4. In a sprinkler of the character described, a nozzle having an unrestricted orifice and a deflector rotatably mounted upon said nozzle, said deflector providing a channel for the stream issuing from the nozzle inclined in the direction of rotation thereof, said deflector having a pressure face disposed substantially normal to path of rotation, and further being shaped to guide the stream upwardly and outwardly over the axis of said nozzle, and an auxiliary pressure lip on the pressure face of the deflector, disposed substantially normal to the course of the stream and acting to confine the flow from said nozzle to accelerate the rotation of said deflector and to diffuse the stream issuing from said nozzle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES W. INGRAM. 

